The Palm Beach Cardinals lost 10-2 to the Jupiter Hammerheads on Friday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, Florida. The defeat was Palm Beach’s sixth consecutive loss and tied the team’s season-long losing streak. Jupiter won the regular-season series and the series that week.
Jupiter took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Andres Valor hit a two-run home run, his 13th of the season. PJ Morlando added a solo home run in the third inning, and Victor Ortega followed with an RBI single after the Hammerheads loaded the bases. Morlando added an RBI single in the fourth inning as Jupiter extended its lead to 5-0.
Gabriel Chinchilla made his first Single-A start for the Palm Beach Cardinals and pitched 2 2/3 innings. He allowed four earned runs on five hits, including two home runs, and one walk while striking out two batters. Liam Best finished the third inning on the mound and returned for the fourth.
Palm Beach bullpen delivers four scoreless innings
Jacob Haley made his professional debut in the top of the fifth inning and pitched two scoreless innings. He issued three walks but struck out two batters. JR Fordham also made his professional debut, pitching two scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth while facing the minimum and striking out two hitters.
The Palm Beach Cardinals scored twice in the bottom of the eighth inning. Miguel Hernandez hit an RBI double, and Matthew Miura followed with an RBI groundout. Jupiter pitcher Jonawel Valdez kept Palm Beach to two runs through eight innings.
The Jupiter Hammerheads scored five runs in the top of the ninth inning to turn a 5-2 advantage into a 10-2 lead. Josh Hogue hit a three-run home run, and Cam Kozeal added an RBI groundout for his first career RBI. Gerinton Mendez then pitched a perfect ninth inning for Jupiter.
Palm Beach Cardinals scheduled to face Jupiter again Saturday
Game five of the six-game Duel of the Dean series is scheduled for Aug. 8 at 6 p.m. at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. The Palm Beach Cardinals are scheduled to use their alternate identity, the Palm Beach Frozen Iguanas, for the game. Palm Beach entered Friday with a 19-20 second-half record and a 52-53 overall record, while Jupiter entered at 16-23 in the second half and 53-52 overall.
Source: Original report